New research from the communications watchdog, Ofcom, highlights that only groceries and personal care products are more important than access to the Internet.

Peter Phillips, Ofcom’s partner for strategy and market development, said “Despite the recession, people are spending more time using mobile phones and accessing the Internet”.

Currently, 68 percent of the UK have broadband access to the Internet compared with 58 percent this time last year. Consumers spent an average of 25 minutes a day using the internet in 2008, compared to just nine minutes in 2003. But the average cost of internet use dropped from £11.37 in 2007 to £10.71 in 2008.

Ofcom said costs are being driven down by increased competition and more consumers opting for “bundle deals” which offer telephone, broadband and TV subscription. The report showed 46pc of consumers buy two or more services from one supplier, up from 39pc a year earlier.

Asked what expenses would be cut in the face of recession, 47 percent of consumers said dinners out, 41 percent said going on holiday and 25 percent buying new clothes.

But only 10 percent said they would cut back on broadband.

Mr Phillips said the biggest “phenomenon” was the staggering growth of mobile broadband, with 139,000 new connections in May alone. More than one in 10 households has a mobile broadband connection, less than a year since it became widely available.

The rise of the internet, particularly music streaming like Spotify, appears to be killing radio, which has seen a 21pc drop in listeners under 16 over the past five years.

This news will be welcomed by businesses and entrepreneurs who have invested time and money in educating their staff how to use the web more effectively.